ALASKA. 
69 
8, 1896, for the settlement of the claims of British subjects, grow¬ 
ing out of the seizures of British vessels in Bering Sea from 1886 
to 1892, which provided for the appointment of two commission¬ 
ers, and it necessary, an umpire. This commission was to sit at 
\ ictoria, British Columbia, and San Francisco, Cal. Sessions 
have been held in both places, but as yet, the results of their 
labors have not been made public. 
SALMON, COD, HERRING, ETC. 
In his report for the fiscal year 1891, Governor Knapp, of 
Alaska, says: 
Among the resources of Alaska are the products of the sea. The native 
population have always obtained much of their food supply from the waters, 
and in a less degree their clothing and many of the conveniences of life. Their 
winter supply of food is still largely made up of dried fish, seaweed, and fish 
eggs, while fresh fish are eaten at all seasons of the year, not only by the natives, 
but by all classes of people, and the abundance of this product insures the most 
thriftless with a ready means of subsistence. 
Salmon fishing is by far the largest and most important industry. Thirty- 
seven canneries and seven or more salting establishments are reported as in 
operation in 1890. The aggregate pack of the canneries was 688,332 cases of 
4 dozen l-pound cans, falling a little short of the pack of 1889. The amount 
of salted salmon was about 7,300 barrels, a little more than the year previous. 
These salmon fisheries represent a capital of about $4,250,000, and they give 
employment to about 2,000 white laborers, 2,500 Chinamen, and 1,000 natives, 
and require in their business, for transportation and their work, about 100 steam 
vessels and 500 fishing boats. The white and Chinese laborers do not usually 
remain in the Territory after the season is over. Below is given a comparative 
statement of the canned product since 1883, viz: 
Year. 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
Total pack. 
Year. 
Total pack. 
Cases. 
36, OOO 
1888. 
Cases. 
439. 2 93 
45. o°o 
1889. 
702, 993 
74, 800 
1890 . 
688,332 
120, 700 
190, OOO 
Total. 
2, 297, 118 
